Morning Brief

The Penang State government has said they may request government funding for two components of the Penang Transport Master Plan (PTMP). Since then, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has indicated the Penang South Reclamation project may have to be scaled down, reclaiming only one or two islands rather than three. To discuss this, and more on the PTMP, we speak with Khoo Salma, member of the Penang Forum, a coalition of civil service groups currently pressuring the government to review the project.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Penang State government has said they may request government funding for two components of the Penang Transport Master Plan (PTMP). Since then, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has indicated the Penang South Reclamation project may have to be scaled down, reclaiming only one or two islands rather than three. To discuss this, and more on the PTMP, we speak with Khoo Salma, member of the Penang Forum, a coalition of civil service groups currently pressuring the government to review the project.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Alex Chia, Head of Regional Equity Research at RHB Group tells us the potential of  Halal and ESG investing and puts to rest the argument that such investments don't necessarily under-perform while giving us his top picks.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Quality of Economic Growth is Centred on TalentsThe OECD has published an Economic Survey on Malaysia. On the whole, it concludes that Malaysia’s economy is “doing well, but social and governance challenges must be addressed.” The report stresses that Malaysia needs to improve the quality of growth to become a high-income nation.  The report stresses also that Malaysia needs to improve productivity and skills acquisition in order to help it move up the value chain. We speak to Andrew Bell, Head of OECD Skills Strategy Projects at the OECD Centre for Skill to get more information on the reports’ recommendations on skills and educationSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Vietnam is releasing its economic data like inflation and purchasing managers’ index. On the whole, Vietnam’s economy saw broad-based growth despite rising trade tensions and volatility in emerging economies. The country is often touted to be one of the biggest beneficiaries of the trade war between the US and China. We speak to Peck Boon Soon, Chief Asean Economist at  RHB Research Institute for his insights and expectation on Viet Nam’s economy ahead of its economic data release.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad arrived in Turkey yesterday, for talks with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. For more insight, we speak to Serkan Yolacan, Research Fellow at the Middle East Institute at NUS, about Malaysia-Turkey relations, and Turkey's possible pivot towards Russia.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad arrived in Turkey yesterday, for talks with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. For more insight, we speak to Serkan Yolacan, Research Fellow at the Middle East Institute at NUS, about Malaysia-Turkey relations, and Turkey's possible pivot towards Russia.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

RGF International Recruitment released a report based on a survey with 3,500 people about hiring trends in 11 countries including China, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia among others. sought to answer in its Talent in Asia report. The report highlights what do job-seekers and employers are looking for as well as the trends. We speak to Ai Ling Lee, Managing Director of RGF Executive Search Malaysia to share her insights on the reportSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

RGF International Recruitment released a report based on a survey with 3,500 people about hiring trends in 11 countries including China, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia among others. sought to answer in its Talent in Asia report. The report highlights what do job-seekers and employers are looking for as well as the trends. We speak to Ai Ling Lee, Managing Director of RGF Executive Search Malaysia to share her insights on the reportSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Umno and PAS are set to finalise their tie-up by the end of next month. For more thoughts on what this could mean, we speak to Bridget Welsh, Associate Professor of Political Science at John Cabot University, about the future of Barisan Nasional, implications for Pakatan Harapan, as well as how this will affect the political landscape of Malaysia as a whole.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Umno and PAS are set to finalise their tie-up by the end of next month. For more thoughts on what this could mean, we speak to Bridget Welsh, Associate Professor of Political Science at John Cabot University, about the future of Barisan Nasional, implications for Pakatan Harapan, as well as how this will affect the political landscape of Malaysia as a whole.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Bank Negara Malaysia expects to see a moderation in global growth to 3%, rather than a contraction. Are fears of a global recession overplayed?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Bank Negara Malaysia expects to see a moderation in global growth to 3%, rather than a contraction. Are fears of a global recession overplayed?  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

DOJ Antitrust Probe: Breaking Up is Hard to DoThe US Department of Justice announced that they will launch an antitrust probe into leading online platforms. Even though no names were mentioned it is likely they are referring to companies like Apple, Amazon, Google and Facebook.  The DoJ says it will look into whether these platforms are “engaging in practices that have reduced competition, stifled innovation and otherwise harmed consumers. We speak to Chris Sagers the Professor of Law at Cleveland State University and author of “United States V. Apple: Competition in America” to get his thoughts on this matter.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The fast-tracking of the Consumer Credit Act and the founding of the Financial Education Network are steps towards awareness of how expensive and unfair many financial products can be.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Outsize losses in Malaysia Airlines have driven Khazanah to hire Morgan Stanley to look into strategic options for the national carrier. This is good news for the country as stemming losses and bailouts is better than maintaining national icons at all costsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

At the BFM CEO Forum-"New Malaysia, New Automotive Policy", Deputy Minister Ong Kian Ming and Datuk Aishah Ahmad, President of the Malaysian Automotive Association were part of the panel that discussed the latest issues impacting the auto industry. With key auto players in the audience, important topics such as the national automotive policy, the vehicle end of life , the insurance de-tariffication, after sales service and even electric cars were talked about. So we spoke to Khoo Hsu Chuang who moderated the event for the key takeaways.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Malaysian consumers are the 10th most confident globally- though we did see a comparative drop in the consumer confidence index, conducted in collaboration with Nielsen. For some more insight, we speak to Luca De Nard, Managing Director of Nielsen Malaysia, about the survey sampling, as well as how Malaysia compares to the rest of the region.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Malaysian consumers are the 10th most confident globally- though we did see a comparative drop in the consumer confidence index, conducted in collaboration with Nielsen. For some more insight, we speak to Luca De Nard, Managing Director of Nielsen Malaysia, about the survey sampling, as well as how Malaysia compares to the rest of the region.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tensions are ramping up in the Strait of Hormuz, between the Iran, the US and the UK. For more on the latest news of two British-linked tankers being seized by Iranian forces, we speak to Kunal Agrawal, Senior Industry Analyst with Bloomberg Intelligence, about what this could mean for oil. CORRECTION: Iran's Grace 1 tanker which was seized by the UK earlier this month was bound for EU-sanctioned Syria, not Libya.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tensions are ramping up in the Strait of Hormuz, between the Iran, the US and the UK. For more on the latest news of two British-linked tankers being seized by Iranian forces, we speak to Kunal Agrawal, Senior Industry Analyst with Bloomberg Intelligence, about what this could mean for oil.CORRECTION: Iran's Grace 1 tanker which was seized by the UK earlier this month was bound for Eu-sanctioned Syria, not Libya.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The race to determine the UK's next leader has come to a head, with Boris Johnson and Jeremy Hunt the last two standing. With Brexit overshadowing the news, we speak to Professor Simon Tormey, Professor of Politics at the University of Sydney, about what to expect in the event of a Johnson-occupied Downing Street.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The disbursement of petrol subsidies through cash handouts is an improvement over the administrative nightmare of monitoring eligibility at the pump, which itself is better than a blanket subsidy. But handouts in general may not be efficacious over the long term.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The disbursement of petrol subsidies through cash handouts is an improvement over the administrative nightmare of monitoring eligibility at the pump, which itself is better than a blanket subsidy. But handouts in general may not be efficacious over the long term.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng has said that it might be challenging to meet the target of a 3% fiscal deficit next year. The nation would have to balance fiscal measures to counter trade tensions with the discipline needed by bond investors.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng has said that it might be challenging to meet the target of a 3% fiscal deficit next year. The nation would have to balance fiscal measures to counter trade tensions with the discipline needed by bond investors.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

At the PKR leaders retreat,Datuk Seri Azmin Ali was noticeable absent, can we expect more tension between him and Datuk Seri Anwar or will he accept the olive branch for the sake of the the party? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

At the PKR leaders retreat,Datuk Seri Azmin Ali was noticeable absent, can we expect more tension between him and Datuk Seri Anwar or will he accept the olive branch for the sake of the the party? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The federal government has confirmed the expansion of the Penang International Airport to accommodate 20 million passengers per annum from the current capacity of 6.5 million passengers per annum which should allow it to cope until 2035. Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng says the expansion could cost up to 1.2 billion ringgit, however, there has been dispute that the expansion could cost only 700 million ringgit.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

At the PKR leaders retreat,Datuk Seri Azmin Ali was noticeable absent, can we expect more tension between him and Datuk Seri Anwar or will he accept the olive branch for the sake of the the party? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Malaysia has made significant advancements in the area of press freedom since the 14th General Elections. But is it truly free? What role does it have to play in the fight against corruption? For more on this, we speak to Gayathry Venkiteswaran, Assistant Professor of Media and Communications at the University of Nottingham.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The French are using a digital tax to create a level playing field.Tan Hooi Beng, Deputy Managing Director at Deloitte tells us the challenges of imposing a digital tax in France on technology companies and why there is opposition from the US and how our own Malaysian Digital tax which starts in 2020 differs.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ahead of the 75th Anniversary of the Bretton Woods Agreement, which led to the creation of the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund, we speak with Professor Rajah Rasiah, Distinguished Professor of International Development at the Asia Europe Institute, the Universiti of Malaya, about how these important financial institutions are positioned in the world today.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ahead of the 75th Anniversary of the Bretton Woods Agreement, which led to the creation of the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund, we speak with Professor Rajah Rasiah, Distinguished Professor of International Development at the Asia Europe Institute, the Universiti of Malaya, about how these important financial institutions are positioned in the world today.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

0:23 - With PKR leaders set to attend a retreat in Port Dickson, ostensibly to build party unity, we speak to Oh Ei Sun, Senior Fellow at the Singapore Institute of International Affairs for his take on the party's inner fractures. 7:25 - Fitch Ratings has affirmed Malaysia's A- rating, with a stable outlook, based on strong broad-based medium-term growth with a diversified export base.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The dispute between Malaysia Airports Holdings and AirAsia over unpaid passenger service charges, which started a year ago has come to an end with a High Court ruling.  We take a history lesson on the issue while looking at the twitter responses by Air Asia's CEO, Tan Sri Tony Fernandes.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

0:13 - It's the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 Moon Landing. We discuss the latest rush to broach the final frontier, new players in the space race, and the rise of commercial space travel 6:20 - Singapore is spending millions to mitigate the effects of climate change- for some insight, we speak to Professor Benjamin Horton, Chair of the Asian School of Environment at Nanyang Technological University, about how much of a threat rising sea-levels pose to Singapore. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad informed Parliament that the government is studying the possibility of re-introducing the Teaching and Learning of Science and Mathematics in English in Schools, or PPSMI. To become a leader in science and tech, does our workforce need English to navigate in the language of science and tech? Strong views from both supporters and those opposition are concerns of the negative effect from flip-flopping on this policy. We speak to Prof. Dr. Nor Hashimah Jalaluddin, a Professor of Linguistics at Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) and Chan Soon Seng, the Programme Director of Teach for Malaysia on their divergent views on this pressing matter.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

00:35 - Bellwether of the region, Singapore suffers the worst export numbers in 6 years as the trade war tensions start to bite. 06:15 - Gold, a safe haven asset is back in vogue according to Hedge Fund legend, Ray Dalio as he warns that tough times are ahead and that this precious metal is an“effective portfolio diversifier”.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

00:35 - Taking a deeper dive on the RM1.09 trillion debt and what does it mean for Malaysia when 10% of it can't pay for itself. 03:24 - Other than the youth who now have a stronger political voice, we ask Ibrahim Suffian, Programme Director, at the Merdeka Centre as to which political party stands to benefit and will it dictate future government policies.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

00:30 - Wan Azmi's emergence as a significant shareholder of Scomi Group indicates a new era of sorts. 04:53 - The ringgit's recent strength suggests attractive positive carry in a backdrop of global dovishness.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Central bankers around the world are asking governments to take up the mantle of propping up economic growth after years of monetary easing. Some prominent observers warn that this is no easy task as markets can turn bearish from the lack of stimulus from interest rates.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

00:30 - US President Donald Trump has repeated a threat to impose additional tariffs on Chinese imports. 04:21 - In Hong Kong, demonstrations have continued against the Chinese government, with another 40 people arrested.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

History was created today with the first successful constitutional amendment which had bipartisan support to lower the voting age to 18. We speak to Syed Saddiq, Minister of Youth and Sports on how this will change the political landscape for Malaysia and  what other initiatives we can expect from his ministry.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

00:30 - Headline GDP's numbers for China look alarming but for a deeper dive of the numbers, we speak to Yue Su, Economist, at the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) as to whether warning bells should sound or if there are bright spots in the economy. 08:35 - Citigroup post better 2nd quarter earnings that beat street expectations but some signs of the possible storm ahead as trading earnings decline while corporate and institutional banking revenue was flat.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Malaysia has approved over RM29 billion worth of FDI in the first quarter of 2019; an increase of more than 73%. For more insight, we speak to Ong Kian Ming, Deputy Minister for International Trade and Industry, about how much of this is a result of the substitution effect, FDI trends, and whether or not Malaysia will have to fear US retribution.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

00:30 - The Public Accounts Committee will call in several government agencies and ministries, following discrepancies detailed in the Auditor-General's report. 06:32 - The National Audit Committee has disputed claims by the Finance Minister that outstanding GST refunds amounted to RM19.5 billion as of June last year.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hypermarkets are either closing down or re-looking at existing business models as higher operational cost and competition from smaller outfits take a bite out of their profits. We discuss what their options are and what lessons can we learn from other markets.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

00:31 - Transport Minister Anthony Loke said that firms can only collect a maximum 20% commission off fares paid to drivers using e-hailing applications in light of the different terminology used on services charged by the e-hailing companies. He also said that the maximum commission that can be levied on taxi drivers is 10%. 08:07 - Former AirAsia Group Bhd chairman Datuk Pahamin Ab Rajab along with several other businessmen is seeking about RM 1 billion from a Japanese lender to support its takeover bid for Malaysia Airlines through its vehicle, Najah Air. If the deal materialises, the Japanese lender will become the main funding source for Najah Air’s takeover bid of the airline. It is understood that the group plans to take up a minority stake in the airline in a debt-for-equity swap and wants control of the board and management. Putrajaya has received 4 offers to take over Malaysia Airlines but no decision has been made on the offers as the government needs to carefully consider all the proposals.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hypermarkets are either closing down or re-looking at existing business models as higher operational cost and competition from smaller outfits take a bite out of their profits. We discuss what their options are and what lessons can we learn from other markets.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.